Valve action for pipe organs



June 24, 1930. v, R BROWN 1,767,738

VALVE ACTION FOR PIPE'ORGANS Filed June 4, 1928 l?. /.l l

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STTES PATENn OFFICE VERNIE ROY BROWN, yOIE UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MAGNETIC ORGAN ACTION COMPANY, OF UNIVERSITY CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0 MISSOURI Application filed June 4,

This invention relates generally to pipe organs, and particularly to an electro-magnetic valve action for pipe organs, the predominant object of the invention being to produce a simple lvalve action for pipe organs which includes as apart thereof a solenoid, said action being so constructed that said solenoid is capable of imparting to the valve with which it is associate a stroke of substantial degree.

Another important object of the present invention is to produce an organ action of the type mentioned above which is so con-y structed and arraned. that the maximum pull is exerted by the electro-magnetic element thereof at the beginning of the stroke of the valve so that the"seal, (as it is called in the trade), which results from the action of the air pressure withinthe airchest of the pipe organ acting against the valve in a direction tomaintain same in a closed position, may be readily broken to permit quick opening of the valve.y

Still another important object of the invention is to so construct an. electro-magnetic valve action that the approximate maximum pull of whichthe electro-magnetic element is capable is exerted upon the valve during the enti-re stroke thereof, whereby said valve is forcibly and quickly moved tok an open position, thus permitting free passage of air through the passageway `which is closed 'by said valve without hindrance from the valve. c l

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view showing my improved organ action in association with an air-chest of a pipe organ;

Figure 2 is a vsection on line 2 2 of Fig.y l;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on 3%-3 of Fig. 1.

` In the drawing, which illustrates one em# bodiment merely of my invention, A designates the air-chest of a pipe organ, said airchest being provided with a top wall B through which an air passageway C'k is formed. The air passageway C is arranged in communication with the interior of an organ pipe (not shown), which pipe is 1oline VALVE ACTION FOR PIPE ORGANS cated at the upper end of said air passageway.

Fixed to the top wall B of the air-chest A at the lower face thereof is a supporting frame F which includes a bar 1 having a depressed portion 2 intermediate the ends thereof il), the opposite end portions of said bar being in contact with the bottom face of the top wall B of the air-chest, and said opposite end portions of said bar being provided with apertures through which screws or other fastening devices 3 are passed to secure said bar to said top wall B. The depressed portion. 2 of the bar 1 is spaced downwardly from the lower face of the top Wall B of the airchest, and extended outwardly therefrom in approximate parallelism with the lower face of the top wall B is a frame portion 4, said frame portion preferably, though not necessarily, being formed integral with the bar 1. Extended downwardly from the outer end of the frame portion ,4 is a frame portion 5` which is preferably formed integral with said frame portion 4. The lower portion of the frame portion 5 is twisted, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the transverse dimension of the twisted lower portion is arranged at an approximate right angle to the ytransverse di.- mension of the portion of said frame portion 5 which is located above said twisted. portion. The frame portion 5 is provided with a horizontal arm G, said arm being an integral part of said 'portion 5 and preferably being formed by cutting an inverted U-shaped slit 6 in said frame portion 5 and bending the material within said U-shaped slit outwardly 'and downwardly to a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1.

S designates a solenoid which is supported by the frame F, said solenoid comlnising the usual cylindrical member '7 formed of brass or other suitable non-magnetic niaterial on which an electrical conductor is wound or coiled to produce the coil S of the solenoid. The solenoid S also includes the ordinary end members 8 at the opposite ends thereof between which the coil S is interposed. Located within the cylindrical member 7 at the upper end thereof is a fixed ico core 9, said core 9 being maintained in a. tixed position with respect to said cylindrical element 7 in any convenient manner, as, for instance, b y friction. rl`he tixed core 9, at its upper end, is provided with a screwthreaded aperture 10, and 11 designates a screw or other suitable iastening device which is extended through an opening 'termed through the depressed portion Q of the bar 1 and through a pair of washers 12 and into said screwthreaded aperture 1() in the lixed core 9, whereby the solenoid S is secured to the trame F. At the lower end thereof the lixed core 9 is provided with a tapered extension ot reduced diameter which is intended for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. 1l designates the movable core ot the solenoid S, said movable core being arranged tor vertical movement within the lower portion ol' the cylindrical member T and being provided at its upper end with a recess 11 o'l a shape and of dimensions corresponding approximately with the shape and dimensions ot' the extension 13 ol the lixed core 9. Formed within the core 11- and extended longitudinally thereof is a passageway l5, said passageway at its lower end having an angular portion 15 which open at the circumferential tace ot the movable core 'l-l. 1G designates an annular member which surrounds the movable core lfl and adapted for adjustment longitudinally thereof, the inner face of the annular member 16 beiner in close irietional contact with the outer iace ot the movable core so that on being adjusted to various positions on said movable core, said annular member will remain in the positions to which it has been adjusted. lt is obvious, in view of the arrangement of the annular niembe 1G on the movable core 1l, that said annular member may be moved to positions where it partially or entirely closes the open end of the portion 15 ot the passageway 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the lower end portion of the movable core 11` is bitl'ircated, as indicated at 17.

Pivotally attached at 1S to the lower end of the trame portion 5 is an arm 19, said arm at one oi its ends being connected by means of a slot and pin connection 20 to the biturcated lower end portion ot the movable core 1l. At the end ot the arm 19 opposite to the end thereof which is attached to the movable core 14, said arm is pivotally attached to a perpendicular valve rod Q1 which is formed ot' a suitable non-magnetic material, such, tor instance, as brass. The valve rod 21 extends through an aperture formed through the arm (i adjacent to the outer end thereof, and said valve rod has a valve head Q2 fixed thereto at its upper end. The valve head is arranged to move into contact with a portion of the lower face ot the top wall ot the air-chest A adjacent to the air passageway C, whereby said valve head may control passage of' air from the interior of the air-chest through the air passageway C. Fixed on the valve rod 21 is a stop element 23 which is adapted to Contact with the arm 6 when the valve rod is drawn downwardly, said stop element eing formed ot suitable soft material, whereby noise will be eliminated when said stop element strikes the arm Extended through a screwthreaded aperture formed through the frame portion 5 is a screw 2l, an end ot said screw being in contact with the lower end member 8 of the solenoid S, as shown in Fig. 1, and said screw being provided with a lock-nut Q5, whereby accidental rotation thereo'tl may be prevented.

In the use of my improved organ action, the solenoid S will be energized when a switch forming a part of the electrical' circuit leading to said solenoid is closed by depression ot an organ key which is associated with said solenoid S and immediately on energization ot the solenoid the movable core 14 will be drawn forcibly in an upward direction. On upward movement of the movable core 1l, the valve stem 21 will be drawn downwardly through the instrumentality of the pivoted member 19, whereby the valve head Q2 will be quickly and forcibly drawn away from the lower face of the top wall B of the air-chest of the organ, thus permitting air to pass from the interior of the air-chest A through the air passageway C and into the organ pipe (not shown) which is associated with said air passageway C at the top thereof.

The air-chest A contains air under pressure, and this air act-ing against the lower face of the valve head Q2 tends to force said valve head into close contact with the lower face of the top wall of the air-chest to close the passageway C. It is essential, therefore, that the valve actuating device (the solenoid S) be capable ot' exerting the maximum pull of which it is capable immediately on energization thereof, or, in other words, at the beginning of the stroke ot' the movable core so that the effect of the pressure within the air-chest acting against the valve head 22 may be overcome, or as it is stated in the art. so that the seal may be broken. Another important requirement of the solenoid S is that the approximate maximum pull be maintained throughout the entire stroke of the movable core so that the maximum speed of movement of the valve head 22 may be attained throughout its stroke, for it Lis only by moving the valve head 22 quickly to the lower limit of its stroke that the air mav pass into the passageway C without inteliference from said valve head.

.In the operation of the improved action disclosed herein, the wall ot the recess 14 at the upper end of the movable core 14 is in very close contact with the outer face of the extension 13 on the fixed core 9 at the beginning and during the entire stroke of the movable core. Hence, the approximate maximum pull of which the solenoid is capable will be attained immediately on energization of the solenoid and during the entire stroke of the movable core. Also, inasmuch as the wall of the recess 14 and the face of the extension 13 are always in close proximity to each other, a stroke of substantial degree may be attained without reducing the strength of the magnetism exerted against the movable core during any portion of the stroke of the movable core, due to the fact that the air gap between the movable core and the fixed core is not increased in proportion to the stroke of said movable core, as has been the case heretofore.

In the use of my improved valve action, air is trapped within the recess 14 when the movable core moves upwardly to cause the extension 13 of the fixed core 9 to be extended into said recess. The trapping of air in the recess 14 in the manner described is caused by the quick movement of the Inovable core, which quick movement does not allow sufficient time for the air within the recess to pass therefrom by leaking through the relatively small space between the wall of said recess and the outer face of the extension 13. In the operation of my device, I utilize the trapped air referred to as a means for regulating the stroke of the movable core 14 and of the valve 22. It has been already stated that the annular member 16 is adjustable longitudinally of the movable core 14 and that said annular member may be moved to positions where it partially or entirely closes the open end of the anvular portion 15 of the air passageway 15 within the movable core. By artially or entirely closing the open end o the air passageway l5" at the lower end thereof, the stroke of the movable core, and consequently of the valve head 22, will be controlled, for it is obvious that this body of tra ped air within the recess willV act as a cusfiion which will limit the movement of the movable core with respect to the portion 13 of the fixed core 9, and by regulating the extent of the opening at the lower end of the passageway 15 by means of the annular member 16, the extent of the body of air within the recess may be determined, whereb the extent of the movement of the mova le core with respect to the fixed core will be regulated.

The function of the screw 24 is to maintain the solenoid S and the frame portion 5 in their proper relative positions, for it has been found in the absence of said screw or a similar device for maintaining the positions of the parts referred to, that on upward movement of the movable core, the lower portion of said frame portion 5 is drawn toward the solenoid, whereby the movable core is forced against the inner face of the cylindrical member 7 in a manner to cause said movable core to bind. By employing the screw 24, movement of the lower end of' the kframe portion 5 in the manner described is prevented; hence, the likelihood that the movable core will bind is eliminated. The screw 24 is capable of rotation so that the frame portion 5 may be adjusted toward and away from the solenoid.

I claim:

1. A valve action for pipe organs comprising a solenoid, a frame for supporting said solenoid, a movable core associated with said solenoid, a fixed core associated with said solenoid, a valve, and means whereby said valve is `co-operatively connected to said movable core, said movable core being yprovided with a recess into which a portlon of said fixed core is extended on movement of said movable core toward said fixed core.

2. A valve action for pipe organs comprising ya solenoid, a frame for supporting said solenoid, a movable core associated with said solenoid, a fixed core associated with said solenoid, a valve, and means whereby said valve is co-operatively connected to said movable core, said movable core being provided with a tapered recess into which a tapered portion of said. fixed core is extended on movement of said movable core toward said fixed core. f

f 3. A valve action for pipek organs comprising a solenoid, a frame for supporting said solenoid, a movable core associated with said solenoid, a fixedy core associated with said solenoid, a valve stem having a valve head mounted thereon, said valve stem being supported for movement by said frame, and a pivoted arm co-operatively connecting said movable core and said valve stem together, a portion of said movable core and a portion of said fixed core being arranged for telescoping movement with respect to each other,

4. A valve action for pipe organs comprising a solenoid, a frame for supporting said solenoid, a movable core associated with said solenoid, a fixed core associated with said solenoid, a valve, means whereby said valve is co-operatively connected with said movable core, said movable core being provided with a recess and said fixed core having a portion adapted to be extended into said recess when said movable core is moved toward said fixed core, said movable core having an air passageway formed therein, said air passageway being in. communication with the recess formed in said movable core and having an open end located at the outer face thereof, and means adjustably mounted 011 said movable core and movable with respect to the open end of said air passageway,

lao

whereby the passage of air through said air passageway may be controlled.

5. A valve action for pipe organs comprising a solenoid, a frame for supporting said solenoid, a movable core associated with said solenoid, a iixed core associated with said solenoid, a valve, means whereby said valve is co-operatively connected with said movable core, said movable core being provided with a. recess and said fixed core having a portion adapted to be extended into said recess when said movable core is moved toward said fixed core, said movable core being provided with an air passageway formed therein, said air passageway being in coinmunication with the recess formed in said movable core and having an open end located at the out-er face thereof, and means Comprising an annular member adjustably mounted on said movable core and movable with respect to said open end of said air passageway, whereby the passage of air through said air passageway may be controlled.

G. A valve action for pipe organs comprising; a solenoid, a frame for supportinfr said solenoid, a movable core associated wit i said solenoid, a fixed core associated with said solem'iid, a valve, means whereby said valve co-operatively connected to said movable core, said movable core and said tixed core having portions arranged to telescope with respect to each other, and means comprising a screwthreaded element supported by said 'frame and arranged to Contact with said solenoid whereby said solenoid and said frame are maintained in their proper positions with respect to each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

VERNIE ROY BRCNVN. 

